Kiss Me Again

Alex’s birthday party starts in about an hour and a half. I’m supposed to be going over to Hayley’s to get ready right about now. I stood in front of my mirror, and smoothed down my dress. I actually think I look kinda pretty. But that’s when I noticed my arms. Usually, when I wear short sleeves, I have on many bracelets to cover up my wrists. But that wouldn’t be the most approved of fashion choice. I hurried over to my drawers, searching for a cover up. Then, I found them. They’re these fishnet arm warmer thingys. I slipped them on my arms, sticking my thumbs through the little thumb holes. I hurried out to my car, picking up the heels on my way out, deciding to slip into some Vans for the way there.
When I got to Hayley's, she too was wearing her outfit. It looked really cute on her petite little body. "Omgeee..HOT ALERT! Come here, let me do your hair and makeup!" Hayley sat me down, and began attacking my face with powders and pencils. "Beautiful!!" She stood back to look at her work when she was finished with my face. Just when I was about to turn to a mirror, she stopped me, and told me to wait till she did my hair first.
When that was done, I got up and looked at myself through her full-length mirror.
I look...stunning. My hair was tied back into a long, curly ponytail. My bangs were curled at the side of my face. My makeup looked really professional!
I turned around to an also curly haired Hayley, who gave me a huge smile and squealed.
"You look absolutely GORGEOUS, Tay!! And those arm warmers match perfectly with the dress, good job accessorizing!"
"I swear, Hayley..you are the Goddess of hair."
"So I've been told. Come on, let's get going!"

I was sorta confused on the address, so I just let Hayley drive. I was really regretting it. Even though his house was only like 7 minutes away, Hayley drives rather..recklessly. I spend the whole car ride holding on for dear life as Hayley swerved down the street, and had an ALMOST failed attempt at parallel parking when we got to the house. Note to self: Never ride in a car with Hayley. ESPECIALLY if she's driving MY car.
We stepped out of the car. I could hear the music blaring from inside the house.
"So..I'm guessing the neighbors must be used to all this noise?" I stared up at the huge house. It looked about three stories, and I could hear a splash and some cheers coming from the backyard.
"A pool?"
"Yesss a pool! Get ready to PARRRTAAAY!!" Hayley cheered and quickly walked into the house. I followed closely behind her; after all the "walking in heels" prep she gave me yesterday after school, walking in them soon became a piece of cake.
We walked in to see a monstrosity of people, dancing and grinding to the beat of Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy. I looked up to see an actual DJ blasting the music from upstairs, over the railing. I could barely hear myself think. I could hardly make out what Hayley was saying to me.
"WHAT?" I yelled over the music. She got closer to my ear.
"LET'S DANCE!!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the swarm of people, then soon started jumping and swaying and singing along. Oh, why not. I smiled, and started dancing along with her.
After a few more songs, I was tired out.
"I'M GONNA GO GET A DRINK!"
Hayley responded with an "OKAY!" then started backing up her ass on some guys's crotch.
I made my way through the crowd of people, to end up in a small little sitting area that was occupied by couples making out on the chairs. I kept walking straight until I found a huge kitchen with it's granite counter tops covered in red cups filled with beer. I grabbed one, and took a sip of it. I leaned my back on the counter and watched everyone dance and drink and laugh together. I think it's safe to say that I've lost Hayley here.
Soon, I saw Zack and Jack walk into the kitchen, a little crowd of people following.
They looked me up and down.
"Damn, Tay. You look fucking hot!" Well hello to you too, Zack.
I rolled my eyes and took another sip of my drink.
"Do you know where Alex is? I have to give him his gift." I swung the black bag in my hand for emphasis.
"Oh, all the gifts go upstairs in the music room. It's pretty big and the door's open, it won't be hard to find." Jack answered.
"Kay, thanks."
"Wait, you wanna watch me drink 30 shots?"
I looked over at the shots Zack lined up on the counter for Jack. The small crowd in the kitchen roared.
"Uh, no thanks. I'm gonna go find Alex. Have fun getting drunk, though."
Jack just nodded, then turned to the crowd.
"WOOOOO!!! I'M GONNA GET SO FUCKED UP RIGHT NOW!"
I left the kitchen and made my way up the stairs. I saw the music room almost immediately.
There were guitars and basses all hung up on the walls, surrounding band posters and records everywhere. I heard voices coming from the corner of the large room. I snapped out of my daze, and saw Alex, being rubbed all over by two girls on either side of him.
"Oh, Alex..you're SO hoottt.."
"Yeah, totally hooottt.." The girls giggled and started nibbling at his ears.
At least he's still got his shirt on.
This seemed like a REALLY bad time.
I just cleared my throat a bit, and Alex snapped out of his trance and looked at me with wide eyes.
"Okay ladies, enough."
"Awwww!!" they pouted as he walked away from him and over to me.
"Uh, hey."
"Hi..."
We both took an awkward sip of our drinks. Then he started to look me up and down. His eyebrows raised.
"Gosh, Tay. You look...beautiful."
I blushed and looked down at my drink. Then I remembered his present that I was still holding in my hand.
"Uh..happy birthday. I uhm..got you a present." I handed the bag to him.
"Aw. You shouldn't have!" He opened it up a peeked inside.
"Whoa. No way." he pulled out the vinyl.
"Tay. You didn't." he looked back up at me, his jaw slack. I giggled at his expression.
"I did, Alex! I had to!"
He dropped it back in the bag and set it down in his large pile of gifts.
Then he engulfed me in a huge hug.
"Do you like it?" I giggled into his shoulder.
"I love it."
Relief washed over me and I instantly felt all bubbly inside.
He pulled out of the hug and smiled at me. Then, Rian came in, oblivious that I was there.
"Hey dude! Zack's gonna set up the firewor- oh. Hey, Tay." He too, looked me up and down. His eyebrows raised and he smirked at Alex.
Alex just rolled his eyes and turned back to me.
"Go out to the pool in a few minutes, I'm gonna sing something soon before the fireworks go off." He quickly kissed my temple, then walked out of the room with Rian.
Oh, wow. Butterflies erupted in my stomach from such a small, quick gesture.
I began to walk out, past all the bedrooms where I could hear lots of moaning and grunting coming from the doors. Geez.
I walked back downstairs and drank some more, this time in bigger gulps.
I finished the cup, then placed it back on the counter. I took a sudden interest in the house. I looked over and saw a guy open a door and walk down a set of stairs.
Ooooh..a basement.
Out of curiosity, I followed behind him down the steps. A cloud of smoke attacked my nose. I coughed and fanned it away, then saw a bunch of guys sitting in a circle, chain smoking a blunt.
Oh my God..it's like on That 70's Show..
They noticed me walk in and winked at me.
"Aye chick, you got a light?" I just blinked in response, not really knowing what to do.
"You wanna blaze with us?"
I shook my head no, but stood in my same spot, sort of inhaling the fumes that kept coming my way.
"Come on..one time won't hurt."
"Yeah, come on babe!" they all begged.
I got out of my trance, then hurriedly walked back up the stairs, and back to the party.
I felt a bit of a rush inside me. Gee, talk about secondhand smoke. On top of me being now quite intoxicated, I guess I'm a little bit "high" too? Greeaaat. Getting home will be a bitch.
I hardly made my way outside to the back patio, tripping a little bit. I saw a bunch of people were dancing half-clothed, drinking and swinging their shirts in the air. I saw people jumping in the pool, and some skinny dipping and making out with their partners. I heard the DJ from out here.
"Okay, guys! Make your way to the pool. Alex is gonna sing for us!"
Suddenly, I saw people immediately running out in boatloads, cheering and screaming, some diving in the pool and resurfacing, their attention going to the big, royal-looking balcony that faced the backyard. There was a mic and an amp and everything set up on it. Soon, a tipsy-looking Jack appeared and spoke into the mic.
"If I'm not mistaken...SOMEBODY just turned 18 todaay!" he slurred. The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Let's sing to him!! Okay, on three! ONE...TWOOOO...THREE!!"
Everyone began singing happy birthday, while Jack moved his arms in sync to the beat, as if he were a conductor.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO YOUUUU!!" The crowd clapped until a shirtless Alex appeared, causing the crowd to go wild.
I stared up at him in awe.
That boy's got one hell of a body..
My thoughts drifted off the he began to speak, holding a guitar.
"Haha, thank you. I'm gonna sing a little bit with the assistance of Zack." Just then, an also shirtless Zack appeared, holding a bass guitar.
"Okay, this one's called, No Idea." They began strumming the intro, and then suddenly the most wonderful sound just flowed right out of his mouth. Zack sang the back up vocals.
I was dreaming we were running
From a city burning,
Down, down, down
Made a break, a new escape
And let the world crash
Down, down, down
(Wooh!)
Now there's a piece of me
Tells me I shouldn't leave
Everytime I see your face
(Everytime I see your face)
Because everytime
You come around
Love, you take my breath away
And I just wanna breathe until,
I take you in
I never want you to leave until
I take you in
(But the truth is)
She has no idea
(No idea)
That I'm even here
(That I'm even here)
She has no idea
(No idea)
That I'm even here
(That I'm even here)

He opened his eyes; him being so lost in the song he hadn't realized he closed them.

Get a grip
Slip and trip
Over clumsy careless
Words, words, words
Paper thin fingerprints
Under softly spoken
Verse, verse, verse
Now there's so much of me
Telling me not to leave
Everytime I see your face
(Everytime I see your face)
Because everytime
You come around
(How do you take my breath away?)

Hiseyes scanned the pool, looking at the crowd of people. I began to sway to the beat, along with everyone else around me.

And I just wanna breathe until
I take you in
I never want you to leave until
I take you in
(But the truth is)
She has no idea
(No idea)
That I'm even here
(That I'm even here)
She has no idea
(No idea)
That I'm even here
(That I'm even here)
(Yeah)
She's so close when I'm so far away
When I'm so far away
Let me dream
Let me stay
She's so close when I'm so far away
When I'm so far away
I can sleep
I can dream
I can change

The song got slower, and he locked eyes with mine, causing me to freeze.

She has no idea
(No idea)
But I'm so far away
She has no idea
Now I'm so far away
Yeah
She has no idea
(No idea)
That I'm even here
(That I'm even here)
She has no idea
(No idea)
That I'm even here
(That I'm even here)
She has no idea
(No idea)
That I'm even here
(That I'm even here)

Suddenly, we all heard a blast from behind us. We all turned around to see a mass of reds and blues, bursting into the sky, then sprinkling away. We all watched the fireworks in awe, as the song began to fade out.

She has no idea
(No idea)
That I'm even here
(That I'm even here)
She has no idea
Dea, dea
She has no idea
Dea, dea
She has no idea
Dea, dea
She has no idea
Dea, dea
She has no idea
The song ended, and the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. He took a bow, and a quick glance at me. He grinned, then turned around and walked back into the house with Zack.
The party went on, and I decided to stay till the end so I could find Hayley.

It was around 1:30 am when the party finally ended. People left the house a mess. Some people were still here, passed out on the couches and in the bedrooms. The only still-conscious people in the house were me, Zack, and Alex. Rian apparently had gone home with some chick, and Jack was out cold on the couch, snoring away. I still couldn't find Hayley. I walked back into the kitchen where Zack and Alex were standing.
"Aw man. This is gonna be a bitch to clean!" Zack had a worried look on his face.
"Don't worry, man. We'll help ya clean it over the weekend." Alex yawned, patting Zack on the back in reassurance.
"Um, excuse me?" I interrupted.
"Have you guys seen Hayley? I came here with her?"
"Hayley?" Alex gave me a puzzled look. Still shirtless, oh my God.
"Yeah..bright orange hair, really hyperactive? Even in a large crowd of people, she's not hard to miss."
"Ohhh..yeah, I think I know who you're talkin' about!" Zack slurred, still a bit intoxicated.
"Pretty sure I saw her leave with some dude earlier."
That slut.
"Oh well, guess I'll have to leave alone, then." I turned around, taking a step, and tumbling to the ground. I'm stilllll a little bit intoxicated. JUST A LITTLE BIT!
"These...s-stupid...heels." I began to curse, throwing the heels off.
Alex ran up to me.
"Hey! Take it easy, I'm not letting you drive in this state you're in."
"State? Am I not in Maryland anymore??" Oh God.
He laughed at me, his beautiful toothy smile was seriously doing things to me.
He reached out his hand for me to grab, and pulled me up.
"Let's take you upstairs, you need sleep."
"Noooo!" I protested.
"I know what people were doing in those beds!"
"Oh, don't worry. Just go to the top floor, that's where my parent's bedroom is. I never let anyone up there." Zack offered.
"TO THE STAIRS!" I yelled, trotting across the floor before tripping over my own feet.
"Oh gosh, come on." Alex scooped he up in his arms, and took me up the two flights of stairs till we reached a HUGE master bedroom. It was the size of the living room almost!
He laid me down on the king sized bed, onto the soft comforter that I just wanted to sink into forever.
"Good night." He began walking out of the room when I stopped him.
"WAIT!"
"Yeah?"
"Stay with me?" I blurted, not having any control over the spell the alcohol has put me in. Right now, I was nothing but a ball of lonely emotions.
"Uh..alright, sure."
He crawled into bed next to me, and I snuggled up into his side, resting my head into his neck. His head cradled mine, and his arm wrapped around my middle. I felt so content and relaxed.
"Hey, Alex?" I whispered into his ear.
"Yeah?"
"Happy birthday." My eyelids got heavy, and I drifted off into slumber.

Notes

Aw, man. I didn't update yesterday.
I really quite enjoyed writing this chapter, I hope you enjoy reading it!

Thanks! :)

Title cred: The Party Scene- All Time Low